That One Summer

"Daddy says your daddy is in jail.”

December Rae sighed, tugging the little blonde girl along the sidewalk. “Yes, Maddie, he’s in jail.”

“He told Mommy it’s because he sells stolen things,” Maddie skipped along, gripping her cousin’s hand tightly. “What does he steal? Does he know stealing is bad?”

Oh for fuck’s sake, December Rae couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Kid was cute but fucking inquisitive as hell.

“He steals lots of things,” she exhaled noisily. “And he definitely knows its bad.”

“Well then he’s a silly pants,” Maddie nodded expertly. “My Daddy would never do that. He does what Mommy calls ‘nice, honest work.’ Why doesn’t your Daddy do honest work, Decey?”

“Because he’s a fucking dead beat lowlife who doesn’t give a rats ass about his wife and kid,” December Rae muttered under her breath. A low lying, slimy bastard who cared more about drinking and selling car parts on the black market then about being there for his family. She was eternally grateful her uncle hadn’t followed in his older brother’s footsteps. Maddie and her sisters deserved a normal, safe, happy childhood. Not one where they spent half of it wondering where their daddy was, and they other half hiding from him as he stumbled around in a drunken stupor. She blamed a lot of her current state of being on that stupid son of a bitch.

Maddie didn’t seem to notice her internal reverie, continueing on jabbering. “I’m glad I get to go to Mrs. Winchester’s house alone today. Lily always gets to sit on her lap during storytime. And do you know what the best part is? Dean is going to be there!”

December Rae almost tripped over her own feet. “What?”

“Dean is off today!” Maddie was practically bouncing. “He’s going to push me on the swing and build castles with me in the sandbox and maybe even drive me around in his car!”

December Rae frowned. “Dean plays with you?” She hadn’t pegged him as a kid person. And she really didn’t think that he went around giving small children rides in his beloved car.

“He does!” Maddie suddenly tore her hand from December Rae’s. “And there he is! Dean, Dean!”

They’d reached Mary Winchester’s house, and there in the driveway washing his car, looking all sweaty and rugged and completely fucking gorgeous, was Dean Winchester. December Rae sucked in a breath. She hadn’t seen him since their awkward encounter on the library steps, and the sheer force of his profile hit her like a ton of bricks. He turned around when he heard Maddie calling his name, and her knees nearly buckled at the beautiful full smile that spread across his face.
“Hey princess!” he called happily, catching the little girl in his strong arms. HE spun her around a few times, his deep laugh mingling with her happy squeals. December Rae could feel her heart melting. This was the cutest fucking thing she’d ever seen in her life. She was suddenly hit with a vision of another little girl swinging around in his embrace, one with her brown hair and Dean’s green eyes. It sent a strange ache through her chest, one that was both disquieting and thrilling at the same time.

Dean set Maddie down and turned to look at her. His face changed, dropping the happy smile and adopting a carefully guarded expression. “Hi,” he said, shifting his weight in that way that meant he was uncomfortable (shit, when did she start picking up on his body language?).

“Hi,” she murmured, feeling her cheeks flush. Damn, now she was blushing. This man was fucking her up. She almost wished they would go back to the yelling and the fighting and the mutual dislike. This new, uncomfortable, shy puppies routine that sprung up after their drunken rendezvous was killing her. Though Dean Winchester looking all shy and awkward did something to her stomach that felt unsettlingly good.

Luckily, Maddie jumped in to save the day. “Dean, you said you were gonna push me on the swing today!” she tugged on his sleeve. “Can we swing now, please? Please?”

Relief slid across Dean’s face. “Yeah, sure Princess. Lead the way.” He gave December Rae a tight half smile, then let the little girl lead him away to the backyard.

“They’re cute, aren’t they?”

December Rae turned to see Mary Winchester smiling at her from the porch steps.

“That girl and her sister have him wrapped around their little fingers,” Mary chuckled, her kind brown eyes crinkling around the edges. “He can’t ever say no to them.” She beckoned Decmever Rae towards the house. “Come on in, honey, have some tea.”

“Oh, no,” December Rae shook her head, taking a step back. “I better get going. Got uh, things to do, you know…”

“Oh no honey, you come up her and have some tea,” Mary’s tone was kind, but December Rae could hear a you-are-going-to-do-this edge to it. “Come on now, come in for some tea and girl talk.”

Sighing in resignation, December Rae nodded in consent. Mary smiled widely, motioning December Rae to follow her inside.

5 minutes later she found herself sitting at a chair in the Winchester kitchen, a steaming cup of tea in front of her and Mary Winchester sitting across from her with a disconcertingly knowing look on her face. December Rae took a hasty gulp of tea, wincing as the hot liquid burned its way down. Her eyes flitted around the room nervously. It was a typical southern kitchen; apple pie cooling on the window sill, checkered gingham curtains, slightly tacky china figurines atop the cabinets. If she turned her head slightly to the left, she could see Dean and Maddie playing on the swing set in the backyard. She tried not to look in that direction.

Mary remained quiet for a minute, simply continuing to look her with that knowing look. Finally, she spoke.

“Has Sammy told you yet about his father?” Mary started, taking a sip of her own tea. December Rae frowned, This was not the conversation started she’d expected.

“Uh, no,” she said, her brows knitted together in confusion. “I mean, I know he passed away, that’s all though.”

“John was a good man,” Mary stroked the side of her mug absently. “A little stern at times, but a good man. He loved me and his boys more than anything in the world.” She sighed softly. “Sam always knew he was smart. Always knew he was going big places, always knew he was going to leave Lawrence and make his way in the big world. It unsettled my husband, caused quite a few fights between the two. But they always made up.”

December Rae took another gulp of tea, confused as to why Mary was telling her this. But she kept quiet.

“Dean on the other hand,” Mary looked almost wistful, her eyes glazing over into some past memory. “Dean was different. He worshiped his Daddy. Wanted to be just like him. From the time he was four, he wanted nothing more than to become a mechanic, drive a classic car, wear a leather jacket….everything John was and did. It made John very proud.”

Her expression then became cloudy. “But it also made him pushy. He was constantly pushing Dean to do better, to be better. He pushed him too much sometimes. He couldn’t do that with Sam, Sam always fought back. But Dean,” she let out a sad sigh, “Dean never did. He wanted so badly to please his Dad. And I don’t think he ever felt like he quite lived up to John’s expectations.”

December Rae felt a pang of sympathy run through her. “Poor Dean,” she said softly, rubbing her finger along the rim of her teacup. And she meant it. Fathers that didn’t exactly deserve father of the year awards was something she knew all about.

“Yes, he takes it very hard,” Mary sighed. “It got even worse after the accident. Dean was in the car with John, you know. He was driving. The other car ran a red light, it wasn’t his fault. But he blames himself, I know he does. Sometimes I sense he thinks it should have been him we buried.”

December Rae couldn’t help but let her eyes flick to the man currently chasing her cousin around in circles. She’d never have guessed that all that pain and pent up anger lay beneath the flirt, the charm and the snark. She felt another pang run through her, this time of guilt. Perhaps she’d judged him too harshly. His attitude was probably just to cover up what he was really feeling. Just like her.
“Mrs Winchester, why are you telling me this?” she murmured, her eyes still fixed on Dean.

“Because honey,” Mary’s voice was soft, “I think everyone deserves a second chance, don’t you?”

There it was. The second chance. Could she put her ‘hatred’ of Dean behind her, and explore this weird new thing that was happening between them? Was she finally ready to suck it up and admit that she was completely and utterly attracted to him? Before their drunken kiss, before Mary’s heartfelt confession, she would have said no. But she was tired of always being so cold. Of always pushing everyone away. Maybe her and Dean could change things. She was only slightly surprise that she wanted to change things.

December Rae nodded, her eyes finally tearing away from Dean to look back at his mother. “Dean and I haven’t gotten along,” she admitted. “But,” she heaved a big sigh. Well here goes fucking nothing. “I suppose I could, uh, try to change that. I well, I-I know a little bit about fathers.”

She didn’t want to elaborate more then that, but she knew kind Mary wouldn’t push.

“I think that would be a very good thing,” Mary smiled gently, laying a comforting hand on December Rae’s arm. December Rae couldn’t help but smile back softy.

“Are we interrupting something?”

Both women turned to see Dean and Maddie in the kitchen doorway, Maddie sporting a very scraped left knee.

“Oh no dear, just some girl talk,” Mary smiled at her son, getting up from her chair. “But it looks like Miss Maddie needs some first aid! Come along Maddie, I’ll clean you up in the bathroom.”

Maddie skipped out of the room holding Mary’s hand, leaving Dean and December Rae alone. December Rae suddenly felt nervous. She wished she could look away from Dean, but it seemed now whenever he was anywhere near her, her gaze was just drawn to him.

“Good chat?” Dean broke the silence first, rubbing an impossibly large hand along his arm.

She nodded quickly, trying not to focus on the veins running along his bicep. “Yeah, your mother is very sweet.”

“Mom’s the best,” Dean smiled, the love in his voice melting her heart. For fuck’s sake, this afternoon had her heart in turmoil. First the cute kid stuff, then the revelation of his broken psyche, now his love for his mother, fuck, she didn’t know how much more of this she could take.

“Well, I suppose I should get going,” she stood up, the chair scraping nosily against the floor. “Please thank you mom for the tea, for me, please.”

She turned to go, but Dean’s voice stopped her.

“Hey, uh, Benny’s having a barbeque for Jo’s birthday on Saturday, I’m sure she told you about it, but uh, I just wanted to make sure you know, um, its at 6, everyone’s gonna be there, uh-“
“Yes Jo told me about it,” December Rae’s lips couldn’t help but twitch at his fucking adorable rambling. “But, uh, thanks.”

“So I’ll see you there then?” Dean shuffled his feet, his eyes flickering with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

Her stomach was doing back flips and summersaults. “Y-Yes,” she stuttered, “I-I’ll see you there.”

His lips curled into a small smile. “Okay, okay then. Good. I’ll see you there.” He shuffled his feet for another few seconds, then turned and walked back out into the backyard.

December Rae stood rooted to the spot.

I’ll see you there.

I’ll see you there.

Between that one simple sentence and Mary’s new information, she knew it. Things were definitely going to be changing. And her hammering heart, her sweaty palms, and her somersaulting stomach were sure signs she was going to like it.

Fuck, she could admit it now,

She was so fucking attracted to him.

And suddenly Saturday couldn’t come quick enough